HWI 550
Hollywood What If Chapter 550
September arrived. On September 9, Kazir had his 38th birthday. He didn't have an extravagant birthday party. He just invited his friends and relatives to enjoy the day. Kazir's father was the only one who attended this time because his brother was busy with the company and currently out of the country. He took his wife and daughter to enjoy their time in a foreign country.
Anyway, Kazir had fun. He realized that he felt blessed to be alive. He further understood how important life was. He had experienced quite a lot in his two lifetimes, so he cherished the moment.
As the evening settled in, Kazir sat on the balcony of his home... The view in Beverly Hills was average, not going to lie. Kazir chose a house that had a mediocre location. He didn't care, though.
He was sipping a glass of wine while watching the city lights twinkle in the distance.
His father, Victor, sat beside him, holding a bottle of beer.
"You've done well for yourself, son," the old man said, his voice filled with pride. He was a bit tipsy and emotional. He was proud that his children could stand on their own.
"Thanks, Dad. I've been lucky." Kazir chuckled.
His father shook his head.
"Luck only takes you so far. Hard work and determination got you here."
Kazir nodded, appreciating his words. Honestly, Kazir still couldn't explain his regression, so he kind of thought of it as his luck.
As the night grew quieter, he made a silent wish, not for more success, but for more moments like this, where he could see everyone around him happy.
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In the second week of September, The Equalizer 2 had its premiere. Kazir and Scarlett naturally attended the red carpet.
The red carpet was filled with excitement as cameras flashed and reporters scrambled to interview the stars. Kazir, dressed in a sharp black suit, walked hand in hand with Scarlett, who was stunning in an elegant emerald-green gown.
Reporters immediately swarmed them.
"Kazir! How does it feel to be back on the red carpet?" one journalist asked.
"It feels great. The Equalizer 2 is an amazing project, and I'm happy that the franchise is doing great." Kazir chuckled.
"Tonight will be wonderful." Scarlett smiled beside him.
The couple posed for a few more pictures before heading inside, ready to enjoy the premiere.
As they took their seats, Kazir glanced around the packed theater. The energy in the room was electric, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Denzel Washington, the film's lead, caught Kazir's eye and gave him a nod. Kazir returned the gesture with a smile.
The lights dimmed, and the 20th Century Fox and Grey Pictures logos appeared on the screen. The audience quieted down as the movie began.
Kazir leaned back in his seat, watching the film unfold. He had already seen the early cut, but experiencing it with a live audience was different. The reactions, excitement, cheers, and shouts of the people made the experience special.
The Equalizer 2 was about Robert McCall, a former DIA operative who now works as a vigilante, helping those in need. When his close friend and former colleague, Susan Plummer, is murdered while investigating a case in Brussels, McCall sets out to uncover the truth. His search leads him to discover a conspiracy involving his former partner, Dave York, who has turned into a mercenary. As McCall takes down York and his team, he also mentors a young neighbor, Miles, steering him away from a life of crime. The film ends with McCall avenging Susan's death and continuing his quiet life as a protector of the innocent. (ChatGPT)
To make it a bit spicy, Kazir changed some parts of the plot, such as Dave York becoming part of the High Table. Yeah, this was the best he could do to include the franchise in the Continental Cinematic Universe. Perhaps the third movie would be a direct confrontation against the High Table.
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On September 12, Friday, The Equalizer 2 grossed $15 million.
On September 13, Saturday, the movie grossed $39 million.
On September 14, Sunday, the movie grossed $56 million.
After three days of screening, The Equalizer 2 grossed over $56 million on its first weekend.
Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox both agreed that the start of The Equalizer 2 was promising. Based on their calculations, The Equalizer 2 would gross at least $200 million at the North American box office once done. However, they had a lot of factors to consider, so this $200 million was just an estimation. Either they would earn more or less than that amount.
By the way, as of September 14, The Dark Knight had already grossed over $517 million at the North American box office, and its international box office was $429 million. After 60 days of screening, The Dark Knight had already grossed $946 million worldwide. Everyone could see that the movie would reach $1 billion.
As for Wanted 3, after 17 days of screening, it grossed $255 million at the North American box office as of September 14.
The momentum of Wanted 3 was still ongoing, while The Dark Knight was already losing its gas. Unfortunately for 20th Century Fox, The Dark Knight had a stronger potential to reach $1 billion, unlike Wanted 3, which would probably reach $800 million at best.
Well, a win is still a win. Both sides were winning and nothing to be salty about.
Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox kept a close eye on the numbers, but they weren't overly concerned. Wanted 3 had already exceeded expectations, proving that the franchise still had strong appeal. Meanwhile, The Equalizer 2 was gaining momentum, and industry insiders believed it had strong legs at the box office.